Judges 5

5:1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day,
saying, 5:2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the
people willingly offered themselves.5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing
unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.5:4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of
the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the
clouds also dropped water.5:5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from
before the LORD God of Israel.5:6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the
highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.5:7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel,
until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.5:8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield
or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 5:9 My heart is toward
the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the
people. Bless ye the LORD.5:10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and
walk by the way.5:11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places
of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the
LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages
in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.5:12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak,
and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.5:13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles
among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.5:14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after
thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors,
and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.5:15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and
also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of
Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.5:16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of
the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of
heart.5:17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships?
Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.5:18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives
unto the death in the high places of the field.5:19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in
Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.5:20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought
against Sisera.5:21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the
river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.5:22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings,
the pransings of their mighty ones.5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the
inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to
the help of the LORD against the mighty.5:24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be,
blessed shall she be above women in the tent.5:25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter
in a lordly dish.5:26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's
hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head,
when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.5:27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed,
he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.5:28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through
the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the
wheels of his chariots? 5:29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she
returned answer to herself, 5:30 Have they not sped? have they not
divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of
divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers
colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that
take the spoil? 5:31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let
them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And
the land had rest forty years.

1-5.No time should be lost in returning thanks to the Lord for
his mercies; for our praises are most acceptable, pleasant, and
profitable, when they flow from a full Heart. By this, Love and
gratitude would be more excited and more deeply fixed in the
hearts of believers; the events would be more known and longer
remembered. Whatever Deborah, Barak, or the Army had done, theLord must have all the praise. The will, the power, and the
success were all from Him.

6-11.Deborah describes the distressed state of Israel under
the tyranny of Jabin, that their Salvation might appear more
gracious. She shows what brought this misery upon them. It was
their Idolatry. They chose new gods, with new names. But under
all these images, Satan was worshipped. Deborah was a mother toIsrael, By diligently promoting the Salvation of their souls.
She calls On those who shared the advantages of this greatSalvation, to offer up thanks to God for it. Let such as are
restored, not only to their liberty as other Israelites, but to
their rank, speak God's praises. This is the Lord's doing. In
these Acts of his, Justice was executed On his enemies. In times
of Persecution, God's ordinances, the walls of Salvation, whence
the waters of Life are drawn, are resorted to at the hazard of
the lives of those who attend them. At all times Satan will
endeavour to hinder the believer from drawing near to the Throne
of Grace. Notice God's kindness to his trembling people. It is
the Glory of God to protect those who are most exposed, and to
help the weakest. Let us notice the benefit we have from the
public peace, the inhabitants of Villages especially, and giveGod the praise.

12-23Deborah called On her own soul to be in Earnest. He that
will set the hearts of other men OnFire with the Love ofChrist, must himself burn with Love. Praising God is a work we
should awake to, and awake ourselves unto. She notices who
fought against Israel, who fought for them, and who kept away.
Who fought against them. They were obstinate enemies to God's
people, therefore the more dangerous. Who fought for them. The
several tribes that helped are here spoken of with honour; for
though God is above all to be glorified, those who are employed
must have their due praise, to encourage others. But the wholeCreation is at War with those to whom God is an enemy. The River
of Kishon fought against their enemies. At most times it was
shallow, yet now, probably By the great Rain that fell, it wasSo swelled, and the stream SoDeep and strong, that those who
attempted to pass, were drowned. Deborah's own soul fought
against them. When the soul is employed in holy exercises, andHeart-work is made of them, through the Grace of God, the
strength of our spiritual enemies will be trodden down, and will
fall before us. She observes who kept away, and did not side
with Israel, as might have been expected. Thus many are kept
from doing their duty By the fear of trouble, the Love of ease,
and undue Affection to their worldly business and advantage.
Narrow, selfish spirits care not what becomes of God's Church,So that they can but get, keep, and save Money. All seek their
own, Php 2:21. A little will serve those for a pretence to
stay at home, who have No mind to engage in needful services,
because there is difficulty and danger in them. But we cannot
keep away from the contest between the Lord and his enemies; and
if we do not actively endeavour to promote his cause in this
wicked world, we shall fall under the Curse against the workers
of iniquity. Though He needs No human help, yet he is pleased to
accept the services of those who improve their talents to
advance his cause. He requires every Man to do So.

24-31Jael had a special blessing. Those whose Lot is cast in
the Tent, in a low and narrow sphere, if they serve God
according to the powers he has given them, shall not lose their
reward. The mother of Sisera looked for his return, not in the
least fearing his success. Let us take heed of indulging eager
desires towards any temporal good, particularly toward that
which cherishes vain-Glory, for that was what she here doted On.
What a picture does she present of an ungodly and sensual Heart!
How shameful and childish these wishes of an aged mother and her
attendants for her son! And thus does God often bring ruin On
his enemies when they are most puffed up. Deborah concludes with
a Prayer to God for the Destruction of all his foes, and for the
comfort of all his friends. Such shall be the honour, and joy of
all who LoveGod in sincerity, they shall shine for ever as theSun in the Firmament.